Soccer: Milan vow to react after European debacle

Serie A giants set to end season trophyless

(By Paul Virgo)
(ANSA) - Rome, March 12 - AC Milan are vowing to react
after they were turfed out of the Champions League at the
last-16 stage with a humbling 4-1 defeat at Atletico Madrid on
Tuesday.

The exit means seven-time European champions Milan are set
to end the season trophyless as they are also out of the Italian
Cup and the Serie A title race.

Furthermore, they look set to fail to qualify for European
competition for the first time since the 1998-99 campaign, as
they are 10th in Serie A, 37 points behind leaders Juventus.

The debacle is also bad news for Italian soccer as a whole
as Milan were the country's last representative in Europe's
premier club competition and for the first time since 2009 there
will be no Serie A sides in the quarterfinals.

"No one has died," said Milan coach Clarence Seedorf.
"We lost a Champions League game away from home.

"Now we'll get back to work. We have difficult challenges
ahead, but we're moving forward, bit by bit, with determination.

"When I fall, I'm used to getting back up".
Former Milan midfielder Seedorf is under fire, as he has
picked up six defeats in 11 competitive games since replacing
Massimiliano Allegri at the helm of his old side in January,
despite having no experience in charge of a senior team.

But so is the club's policy in recent years of reducing
spending on the transfer market and trying to develop a
competitive team based on young players.

The lack of leadership was clear as Milan faded away in
the second half in Madrid on Tuesday.

The only flashes of inspiration came from Brazil playmaker
Kakà, who briefly gave the visitors hope with an equaliser when
they were 1-0 down in the first half.

Italy striker Mario Balotelli failed to make an impact and
lived up to his reputation for being a tempestuous character by
getting a needless booking for dissent against the referee.

Given the current state of the club, some soccer pundits
fear it may be a long time before Milan take part in the
Champions League again.